Bridge Street pilot's career has a dash of Bond, 2 big storms

The nautical journey that ultimately brought 53-year-old Cajun gondolier Roberto Dula and his 36-foot, 1,300-pound baby - a gondola named Bella Mae - here two years ago is a pretty amazing tale.

It started in Lafayette, La., where he was born, and continued to Venice, Italy; Boston; Pensacola; New Orleans; Denver; back to Lafayette; Destin, Fla.; and ultimately Huntsville.

Did we mention that he also survived two killer hurricanes within six months of each other - Ivan and Katrina - to become the only active gondolier in Alabama and owner of one of just two dozen or so authentic gondolas in the U.S.?

Fate? Destiny?

Dula isn't sure, but he knows one thing.

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," he said, smiling, on the dock of La Bella Gondolas at Bridge Street Town Centre, where he offers rides on his gondola and his fleet of pedal boats.
Of course, Dula fell in love with the romantic culture of gondolas the way everyone does - right? - after watching a James Bond movie.

"I saw ... 'Moonraker' and saw James Bond zooming around in his souped-up gondola," Dula said. "I told my mom I was going to get one of those."
Sure. Well, in 2004, there Dula was, in the birthplace of romance and everything gondola - baptizing his baby Bella Mae in the Italian waters of Venice. He honed some of his gondola skills there and more on the St. Charles River in Boston before heading to Pensacola to work with the Gondola de Pensacola.
That lasted five months before Hurricane Ivan spoiled things.
"I lost my house but didn't lose the gondola," Dula said. "I filled her with concrete blocks and sank her."
Finally, roots
He cleaned up the gondola and headed to New Orleans in 2005 to work in City Park as NOLA Gondola. Six months later, Hurricane Katrina again turned his world upside down. His apartment flooded, but he was able to go upstairs to his landlord's place and stay, living off MREs (military meals ready to eat).
He was rescued by a helicopter crew six days later, but not before he paddled around the devastated area in a small, green kayak trying to help others. He sank Bella Mae once again, knowing he'd eventually come back to rescue the gondola.
The helicopter dropped him off at the New Orleans airport, and from there he was transported with 327 others to Lowry Air Force Base in Denver for three weeks. He eventually got back to Lafayette, cleaned up the gondola and headed to the Sandestin resort in Florida for a year. That's when he heard a new shopping complex in Huntsville was looking for a gondola.
"I saw an opportunity to get off the Gulf Coast and range of hurricanes," Dula said. "It was getting sort of old, plus Huntsville is an excellent spot."
Since docking here in November 2007, Dula has "finally established some roots." He's observed 63 marriage proposals, and they've all said yes.
"The consequences of not saying yes aren't pleasant," Dula said, glancing at the water.
He offers couples, or anybody for that matter, a serene ride around the Bridge Street lake, complete with music from the likes of Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli and Dean Martin. The rides are 30 or 45 minutes, and for a few extra bucks, you can get chocolates, champagne and even a live musician. (It's often local accordionist Mark Hixon.)
The trips have been magical for the passengers.
"My boyfriend and I took a nighttime gondola cruise and were very impressed," one happy customer commented on the company's Web site, labellagondalas.com. "It did not feel like we were in Alabama at all. My boyfriend proposed on the gondola near the waterfalls of Bridge Street and it was a picturesque marriage proposal."
"I have always wanted to go to Italy and take a gondola ride," another female customer wrote. "I can dream about going to Italy but riding in a gondola has now become a reality. I recently celebrated my birthday at Bridge Street and was excited to finally get to ride in a gondola."

La Bella Gondola packages
Prices don't include all amenities
Romanza
$69 for two, 25- to 30-minute excursion, recorded classical Italian music
Bella Giorno
$109 for two, 45- to 50-minute excursion, recorded classical Italian music
Bella Notte
$179 for two, 40- to 45-minute excursion, live Italian music on board
Private tours
Daily 1 to 10 p.m., weather permitting, reservations advised
Public tours
Daily noon to 3 p.m., weather permitting when private tours not scheduled; when schools are in session, opens daily at 3 p.m.
Public tour
$10 for adults, $7 for children 12 years and younger, and seniors 62 years or older
Pedal boats
$6.50 to $12 per person, half-hour or hour
For reservations
info@labellagondolas.com or 503-3875